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Officials discuss future

of Mount Airy rail yard

A former downtown Mount Airy train station may someday see a new life.

Rob Scranton of CBI Development Group on Monday presented the Mount Airy Planning and Zoning Commission with his plans for a 24,000-square-foot, mixed-use development in four buildings at the former train station.

The Old Mount Airy Train Station on South Main Street houses a pharmacy, doctor's office, bike shop, train shop and floral store. Most recently, businesses affected by a 2007 downtown fire had also been housed in the area in trailers.

"We've been talking about this project for a long time," he said.

Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission liked the proposal, which included 24 apartments and a public plaza, but were concerned about water.

The town has no water to set aside for the project. "We need an additional source," said town engineer Barney Quinn. "That's something that's being worked on right now."

Mount Airy collects its water from 10 wells, and is in the process of finishing a new well. But the water from the new well will only allow pending development to occur. No new projects could use that water, so commission members suggested that Scranton return in a year to see if anything changes.

Scranton said even though there are four parcels involved in the redevelopment project, it would be developed as one complex, with design elements keeping within the historic style of existing Main Street buildings.

Commission member Diane Gleason said she liked the plan, and that Scranton had proven his ability to work with the town and its expectations, such as with the rebuilt 114 S. Main St. after the fire, but there was nothing guaranteed with a water source at the time.

"To move forward with something before we have the adequate facilities in place is just putting the cart before the horse," Gleason said.

Second-floor dining issues headed to Town Council

A downtown establishment's quest for outdoor, second-floor seating will now reach the Mount Airy Town Council without a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The commission voted 2-2 with members Diane Gleason and Dave Pyatt in support of a positive recommendation and Lindy Brown and Fred Goundry opposed.

Goundry said he opposed the support for the amendment to town code because of the negative impact the expansion of Upper Deck Sports Bar and Grill could have on residents. He said complaints of drunken behavior with its noise and safety concerns should be reserved for a college town.

"You just can't have mixed use and allow this kind of activity," Goundry said.

Commission member Diane Gleason said the business does have issues with police being called and neighbors' complaints, but the outdoor dining could solve some of the problems, bringing patrons to a more confined space, which might reduce noise for residents.

The second-floor, outside addition for the Upper Deck Bar and Grill would extend the establishment over Concetta's MainStreet Bistro, another business in the old Mount Airy fire house building on South Main Street.

The business's owner, Jeff Green, had approached the Mount Airy Town Council in 2008 saying the then-recently enacted smoking ban was damaging his business and he needed an outdoor seating area to survive.

Green and co-owner, wife Megan Green, are still seeking outdoor seating by addressing town rules that only cover ground floor outdoor seating. Green's attorney, Anne-Herbert Rollins, said the expansion will satisfy customer demand while allowing the business to remain competitive.

"This is a zoning ordinance amendment that affects all businesses in the downtown zone," she said. "There might be 10 other business owners after this who want to do the same thing after it is approved. ... I consider this in a much broader scope."

The amendment now will go to the Mount Airy Town Council without a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission, said Heather Smith, the town's zoning administrator.

If the amendment is approved by the Town Council, the application can apply for a special exception, then the Board of Appeals with evaluate whether the special exception is allowed.